Staff & Board

Staff include a Director, Business Manager and Gallery & Media Coordinator. As well as contracting artists, writers and curators, Umbrella is also committed to engaging interested individuals in all facets of the organisation, through active participation in its thriving membership and volunteer program.

Staff

Dr. Jonathan McBurnieDirector (on leave)

Jonathan McBurnie is an artist and arts writer from Townsville, incubated by the long, humid days perfect for reading, writing and drawing comics. Jonathan undertook a Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours at Brisbane’s Queensland College of Art, where he subsequently worked for several years as the Fine Art department’s administrator, and sporadic teaching. Relocating to Sydney for postgraduate study in 2011, Jonathan completing a PhD at the University of Sydney, where he was supervised by Adam Geczy, Stuart Bailey and Danie Mellor. Jonathan’s thesis, entitled ‘Collisions: Drawing in the Digital Age’, examined the continued vitality of traditional drawing technique and technologies in the face of rapid digital advancement.

Exhibiting extensively throughout Australia, as well as overseas, including New Zealand, Japan and the United States, Jonathan has earned a reputation for staggering visual excess, collisions of styles and forms, and a robust studio output. Jonathan has contributed to a range of publications including Sneaky (where he was the arts editor), Eyeline, Catalogue, and Penthouse Australia, and has written catalogue essays for many artists. Jonathan also edited the art-themed issue of Sneaky, and is the exhibitions and reviews editor for the Journal of Asia-Pacific Pop Culture. Jonathan also sits on the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee (ACAC) for Townsville City Council, and is a member of Professional Arts North Queensland (PANQ).

Alan MarloweBusiness Manager

Alan studied New Media Arts at James Cook University before he was offered the Business Administration traineeship position at Umbrella (2011). The course gave Alan a great foundation of knowledge of the arts industry and history, and linked him to various contacts in Townsville including artists, educators, and media. Alan has done a lot of volunteer work at different events in the arts community, like the Strand Ephemera public sculpture show, and has been a resident artist at Studio2 Gallery.

After Alan finished his traineeship with Umbrella, he was offered the permanent position of Business Support Officer, then later when our Business Manager left, was given the role of Business Manager.

When Alan is not at work, he likes to teach body balance, draw, take photos and attend social events. He also likes to keep fit and healthy by getting himself to gym or up castle hill after work, and does yoga most Sundays.

Angela LittleGallery & Media Coordinator

Angela came to Townsville at the start of 2011 looking to expand her art career in a regional centre. She hold a Bachelor of Fine Art and a Graduate Diploma of Secondary Education from Griffith University. She has been fortunate enough to try various roles in different arts organisations, including her current role as the Gallery & Media Coordinator at Umbrella. In this role, she coordinates the graphic design, web management, as well as installation of exhibitions, and coordinate our workshops, education program and projects.

Art and craft really is an all-consuming thing for Angela, she has several creative outlets which include printmaking, sewing, drawing, paper-craft…the list goes on. Aside from art, Angela is busy renovating her house, dancing in zumba classes, watching murder mysteries or op-shopping for bargains.

Board of Management

Ann RoebuckPresident

A journalist for 36 years, Ann was elected to the Umbrella board six years ago and is currently serving her second term as President. Ann recently retired after working for News Corporation for the previous 19 years. Her career included working in newsrooms across regional Queensland, including as Editor of the Gladstone Observer, Deputy Editor of the Townsville Bulletin and Managing Editor, North Queensland, overseeing 12 mastheads between Port Douglas and Bowen.

Lydia RiganoVice President

Lydia is a clinical psychologist, mum of two and a budding artist. She co-owns and runs a small business in Townsville called Fulham Consulting, a private mental health hub passionate about helping people to live their best life. Lydia has previously served on the Board of the Townsville Writers & Publishers Centre and she contributes a monthly column for the DUO Magazine. She looks forward to her new role on the Board and the opportunity to live vicariously through the artists the gallery supports.

Michael PopeSecretary

Michel Pope is currently a high school teacher and president of Artgaze. Previously Michael was the Education and Public Programs Coordinator for Gallery Services at Townsville City Council. Michael enjoys travelling and is an avid artist, having recently started up the Townsville Urban Sketchers group.

Sarah StandenTreasurer

Sarah Standen is a communications and marketing consultant and founder of Inkbyte Communications, a strategic creative agency based in Townsville. Sarah has extensive experience in communications and marketing, working at senior levels within the public and private sector and in recent years as a consultant with various industry and consumer clients. She is an experienced strategist and operational driver, with a passion for helping businesses deliver engaging and authentic experiences.

Justin AnkusBoard Member

Justin Ankus is the Executive Director of the Australian Festival of Chamber Music. Prior to joining the AFCM Justin was Manager of the Open Academy at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where he managed the Continuing Education and Outreach programs. Prior joining the University, Justin worked for Musica Viva Australia in various roles in operations and marketing and also the Australian Chamber Orchestra.

Jo LankesterBoard Member

Jo Lankester has been an artist and arts worker since 1994. She is currently exhibiting locally, nationally, and internationally and employed at Gallery Services, Townsville City Council. Jo has previous experience as an Umbrella board member and has also been the president of PressNorth Printmakers since 2012.

Stephen NaylorBoard Member

Currently the Chair of the Academic Board at James Cook University, Professor Stephen Naylor has had more than 35 years working in the visual arts and higher education. He has an understanding of contemporary art practice from a practitioners perspective (as an artist with 20 years of practice), an arts educator (having taught art history and sculpture in Universities for more than 25 years) and as an international arts reviewer for national arts journals (over the past 20 years).

Sheree KinlysideBoard Member

Sheree has 28 years experience with community, group, and solo exhibitions and was also as an arts reporter for the Townsville Bulletin. She served on the RADF committee for three years in 1990s. Sheree holds a BA Marketing/Fine Arts (Printmaking) and is a founding member of PressNorth Printmakers. She has a keen interest in community arts, respectfully involved in the support and advancement of our country’s First Nations people.

Role of the Management Committee

The Committee’s overall role is to govern the organisation rather than manage it. It is the purpose of the Director to manage the organisation in accordance with the direction of the Committee.

In general, the Committee is responsible for, and has the authority to determine, all matters relating to the policies, practices, management and operations of Umbrella Studio Association Inc. It is required to do all things that may be necessary to be done in order to carry out the objectives of the organisation. The Committee has the final responsibility for the successful operations of the organisation. Without intending to limit the general role of the Committee, there are two dual roles of the Management Committee.

Ensure compliance – Umbrella Studio is accountable to its members, community and funding bodies and complies with legislation such as taxation, work cover, insurance and the meeting of contractual and service obligations.

To improve the performance of the organisation, the Committee is charged with overseeing strategy formulation and policy making – and making sure that Umbrella Studio is meeting the purpose for which was formed.

Ensuring the Mission Statement is fulfilled.

There are seven key tasks associated with these dual roles:

Develop clear and appropriate goals and plans for the association

Make sure that the service users needs are met in the best ways possible

Make sure the association remains financial

Meeting any legal obligations such as complying with the Associations Incorporations Act, the constitution and any funding agreements

Make sure proper financial management procedures are in place and are followed

Employing, supporting and supervising staff and ensuring all legal requirements associated with employing staff are met

Be aware of the day-to-day operations of the association and be available when necessary

The minimum time requirement from Board is to: attend exhibition openings and special events as well as, attend monthly Management Committee Meetings 2 hours x 11, Attend AGM 2 hours in March, attend Strategic planning day scheduled for July lasting approximately 6 hours and attend two sub-committee meetings that last 2 hours.

Support Umbrella Studio

Together since 1986 Umbrella members and supporters have created a vibrant community of participating, sharing and innovation.

We take pride in our unique part of the world and celebrate our difference. We strive to create a vibrant city by supporting the arts in education, job creation, skills development and community engagement.

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Umbrella Studio acknowledges the financial support of: the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, the Commonwealth Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body, and the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy, an initiative of the Australian, State and Territory Governments. Townsville City Council is proud to support Umbrella's studio operations under it's Community Grants program.